Monarch bosses have blamed terror attacks in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia for the airline going into administration

David Hickson, from the Fair Telecoms campaign, told The Sun: “I think KPMG were being utterly stupid.

“Premium rate telephone numbers have their place, but to think they have a place for people that have just been made redundant is utterly sick and stupid.”

Last night KPMG claimed they had no idea the premium rate number would have led people who called it to be charged by their mobile phone firms.

A spokesman insisted: “Having asked a third-party provider to set up a conference call for Monarch employees on the afternoon of our appointment, and agreeing to pay for that call facility, we have since been made aware that each of the participants was charged an additional sum by their phone company to join the call.

“We will ensure all participants are refunded any additional costs they incurred.”